Upon arriving at the Emperor Emeritus's palace, Li Su suddenly realized what was wrong with His Majesty's behavior today.

"Aunt," Zhao Yunxiao bowed to Zhu Sanniang, then whispered in her ear, "Everything has been arranged, and you may leave the palace at any time."

A complex emotion flashed in Zhu Sanniang's eyes as she looked at him. She nodded gently, then turned her gaze to Zhao Yi, who was lying on the couch.

Ever since she shielded him from a sword on the Lantern Festival more than ten years ago, he has personally watched her take a bowl of herbal medicine every day.

It was a tonic, but also a medicine to blur her memory.

Little did he know, she had remembered everything long ago.

For the past fourteen years, she has taken on the role of Empress Zhu, replacing Zhao Zhi, to raise her two children in order to repay a debt of gratitude.

Zhao Zhi had shown her great kindness, a kindness greater than anything else, and she felt she had to repay it.

Zhu Sanniang reached out and stroked Zhao Yi's increasingly gaunt face; no one saw the moisture in the corners of her eyes. Deep down, she still harbored profound feelings for this man.

For fourteen years, he withstood pressure from all sides of the court, refusing to hold a selection of concubines or have his own children, and devoted himself to raising Zhao Yunxiao to become an outstanding emperor, which was of great merit.

Although only she knew that Zhao Yi was infertile, outwardly he still had to face alone the mountain of memorials urging him to enrich his harem and produce offspring for the Great Xuan Dynasty.

She looked up and glanced at Zhao Yunxiao. Zhao Yunxiao immediately understood and dismissed the rest of the group.

"Aunt, is there anything you need to tell Xiao'er?" With no one else waiting around, Zhao Yunxiao also shed his imperial airs and sat down next to Zhu Sanniang like an ordinary child.

“Over the years, my aunt has treated Xiao’er and my sister like her own children, and my sister and I know this very well.” He held Zhu San Niang’s hand tightly and choked up as he said, “But the thought that my aunt will leave Xiao Xiao soon makes it hard for us to let her go.”

Zhao Yunxiao sighed, then smiled and said, "However, Aunt should go out of the palace to enjoy some leisurely days. I heard that Mother, Mother and Father's merchant ships arrived in Da Xuan yesterday and will be in Lingyang City soon—" As he spoke, he became dejected and his voice gradually lowered.

"Xiaoxiao, don't blame your parents. They are a rare and perfect couple in this world. And your mother, whether as Princess Zhao Chunhua of the Great Xuan Dynasty or Empress Yun He of the Yun Dynasty, is a model for women everywhere. You, don't blame them—"

Zhu Sanniang grasped Zhao Yunxiao's hand in return and earnestly offered her words of comfort.

"Aunt, of course I know. I can practically recite all of this from memory," Zhao Yunxiao replied with a smile, but tears welled up in his eyes.

"Since becoming emperor, Xiao Xiao has realized that many things in this world are beyond one's control. For example, his father's love for his mother was beyond his control, so he would rather change his appearance and stay by his mother's side."

My mother's love for my uncle and the people of Yun Dynasty was beyond her control, so she had to leave my sister and me to shoulder the heavy responsibility of becoming the Empress of Yun Dynasty. And my aunt's love for my uncle was also beyond her control, wasn't it...?

He looked at Zhu Sanniang, then shifted his gaze from her to a green plant beside her, and slowly said, "Xiaoxiao remembers that in Aunt's palace, this is the green plant that is updated very frequently."

Zhu San Niang didn't say anything; the two looked at each other and smiled. He knew about her feigned amnesia for the past fourteen years. He understood her predicament and supported her decision.

"Whether it's Father, Mother, or my two uncles, or Aunt, you have all done so much for us. My sister Langhuan has taken over Mother's position this year and is now the Empress of Yun Dynasty. As her older brother, I can't let myself be outdone by my sister, right, Aunt?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Zhu Sanniang stroked Zhao Yunxiao's head and said affectionately, "Fourteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. You've all grown up, and your aunt is getting old. It's time to let go. Let us old ladies and gentlemen go and see the prosperity of the Great Xuan Dynasty and the magnificent scenery of the world for you!"